For Taste Loss

Taste Loss

There are many reasons for loss of taste varying from loss of smell, smoking, ear infections or middle-ear surgery. Ear issues usually don’t cause complete taste loss but they do cause unpleasant changes in taste. Other causes of taste loss include certain medications that make everything taste flavorless and a lack of iron in a diet, which leads to anemia. Anemia can cause tongue inflamation which can interfer with one’s ability to taste. One of the most common, and detrimental causes of taste loss occurs with cancer patients that are undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Taste changes during chemotherapy

Although the exact reasons are not clear, about 50% of patients undergoing chemotherapy experience changes in the way that food tastes. Food is often reported to take on an unpleasant metallic taste, while others experience a complete loss of ability to taste all together. This can be extremely detrimental to one’s ability to recover from a treatment like chemotherapy when it is essential to eat healthfully and keep energy levels high. Taste changes are also common in people taking biologic therapies such as interleukin-2, and interferons. According to Pam Kelly:

Eating healthy is a major component to having energy, staying healthy, and continuing the fight against cancer.

A new study at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Florida has shown that the táami berry has significant benefits for Chemotherapy patients experiencing taste changes. According to Dr. Mike Cusnir, an oncologist and leader of the project,

Most of the patients undergoing chemotherapy have weight loss. Then they cut further into their diet and then this furthers the weight loss. It causes malnutrition, decreased function of the body and electrolyte imbalance.

In his findings, Dr. Cusnir noted that the vast majority of patients have given good feedback that it did improve taste. Terry Blechman, a cancer patient’s wife adds:

If you can’t eat because everything tastes terrible, and one berry gives you back a sweet taste for a meal, what is it worth? It’s worth everything.

Fighting cancer is hard enough; enjoying food should never be a problem.

Antioxidants and free radicals

Cancer is a disease caused by damaged cells. Some cells are damaged because they are altered by free radicals. Free radicals are cells that are missing one of the electrons that they need to be stable, normal cells. These cells roam your body attempting to replace their missing electron by stealing one from healthy cells. When they do, your healthy cell breaks down and has to find an electron from another cell. The more free radicals you have, the more likely you are to develop cancer.

Many studies found that antioxidants work as spare electrons to the free radicals. They are claimed to allow the free radicals to bond to them rather than search out and destroy a healthy cell. Because this stops the proliferation of damaged cells, it may reduce your risk of developing cancer. táami berry is an excellent source of antioxidants.